The I-75/I-74 interchange project might also benefit from Gov. John Kasich's plan to bond against Ohio Turnpike toll revenue. / The Enquirer/Gary Landers

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I-75 projects

Here are the Interstate 75 construction projects that could receive money from the Ohio Turnpike plan and avoid delay: • Reconstructing and widening the highway at the I-74/I-75 interchange between Hopple Street and Mitchell Avenue in 2017 – a $205.2 million project originally slated to start in 2021. • Adding an additional lane to the northbound and southbound portions of the highway between Mitchell Avenue and the Norwood Lateral in 2018 – a $41.1 million project moved up from a planned 2021 start date. • Adding an extra through lane along I-75 at Glendale-Milford and Shepherd Lane near GE Aviation’s headquarters – keeping the $117 million project on schedule to start in 2016.

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The proposed new Uptown interchange could be receiving a major boost from Gov. John Kasich’s plan to bond against Ohio Turnpike toll revenue – another showing of the Republican’s commitment to the project at Interstate 71 and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

This marks the first time Kasich has identified specific projects he would like to see funded with some of the $3 billion coming from additional Ohio Turnpike toll revenue.

That could leave the $108 million interchange project with one more funding hurdle before the start of construction can be moved up to next summer – the required local money, which the city plans to generate from its controversial parking deal.

The interchange – which Kasich and top business leaders have deemed critical to retaining and attracting jobs to the region – is among four Greater Cincinnati projects that Kasich has recommended receive money from the turnpike plan.

The state’s Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC), which prioritizes projects statewide, will make a final decision to award the money in August.

“The community felt it was important,” Kasich told The Enquirer last week, explaining the priority he has placed on the interchange since taking office in 2011. “As hard as this may be to believe, there’s no politics in TRAC. I don’t get in the middle of it.”

As The Enquirer first reported in May, the Ohio Department of Transportation’s local office applied for $79.5 million in state money for the interchange project. That’s the amount TRAC is considering. The project already has received about $10 million in state money, most recently getting $4.2 million early this month to purchase land needed to build the interchange.

“This is no time to change this successful course,” said Mark Policinski, executive director of the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments, the region’s transportation planning agency. “We ask the advisory council to approve the governor’s recommendations and help us move forward.”

Still, state and city transportation officials said Monday the local match is required in order to eliminate a 13-year delay and start construction in July 2014. City transportation director Michael Moore reiterated the city still plans to use $20 million of the $92 million upfront payment from the parking-lease deal for the interchange.

The Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority, however, still is deciding whether it wants to go through with leasing the city’s parking system. City Council would have to approve spending part of the upfront money on the interchange.

“The pieces are almost all in place now,” said Beth Robinson, CEO of the Uptown Consortium, which represents Uptown businesses, including Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati.

Business leaders, many of whom are Kasich supporters, have argued the Uptown area’s lack of access from I-71 could lead to the loss of jobs. For years, the Cincinnati Business Committee, Uptown Consortium and OKI have pushed for the project, which leaders say could lead to the creation of up to 7,000 jobs. Currently, no full-access ramp exists from I-71 to Uptown, the region’s second-largest jobs hub after Downtown.

“Ohio’s transportation system – and the network of highways at its heart – is perhaps our state’s single most important asset for economic development and jobs growth,” said Gary Lindgren, executive director of the CBC, which represents CEOs from most of Cincinnati’s major companies. “It was welcomed news to see one of our highest priority projects accelerated under this initiative.”

The interchange isn’t the only major transportation project that stands to receive Ohio Turnpike money. Three portions of the massive overhaul project of I-75 through Hamilton County – totaling $363 million – also could benefit from Kasich’s plan.

A $2.1 billion overhaul of the expressway is planned or underway on the 17-mile stretch from the Ohio River to I-275. Some of the work isn’t scheduled to start for more than a decade because of a lack of money, and Kasich’s turnpike plan could help avoid years-long construction delays.

Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune said I-75 also is critical to economic development. He and Kasich’s Southwest Ohio liaison, Sherri Carbo, told members of the county’s Transportation Improvement District board Monday that they’ve recently met with officials from Evendale-based Formica, which manufactures laminate surfaces used in kitchen products.

Company officials shared concerns about I-75 congestion, and how that may impact whether the company decides to keep its North American headquarters here, Portune said.

“For us to be able to tell them we are going to be able to alleviate congestion sooner rather than later ... that’s music to all of our ears,” Portune said.

In December, Kasich unveiled a plan to raise $1.5 billion through bond sales backed by future turnpike toll revenues. The plan is for up to an additional $1.5 billion to be generated by matching local and federal funds.

The state legislature required that most of the turnpike money be used in northern Ohio. But Kasich contends that financing that area’s projects through toll money will free up funds for other projects statewide.

Kasich recommended the bond plan because the state’s promised transportation projects faced a $1.6 billion shortfall and years-long delays when he took office.■